Aryna
Sabalenka receives criticism on social media after rushing a ball girl during
her match against Coco Gauff. The Belarusian secured her place in the final of
the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open after defeating Gauff 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 and will face Zheng
Qinwen in the title match.
During the
third set, tensions were high as the 3-time Grand Slam champion took a 4-2 lead
thanks to an early break. Serving at 30-15, Sabalenka was preparing to serve,
but the ball girl wasn’t fast enough to get the balls to the World No. 2,
prompting Sabalenka to gesture in frustration, urging the girl to hurry up.
Sabalenka criticized for rushing ball girl
The scene
provoked some boos from the local spectators, but everything quickly passed
after a few seconds. In the next service point, Sabalenka smiled at the
confused ball girl. Despite the incident, Sabalenka lost that game, allowing
Gauff to push the set to 4-4. However, the former World No. 1 broke back later
and closed the final set 6-4.
Sabalenka's
next challenge will be against China's Zheng Qinwen, who has already defeated
opponents like Leylah Fernandez and Jasmine Paolini and is preparing for her
fourth encounter with Sabalenka. All previous matches were in Grand Slam
tournaments, including the Australian Open final earlier this year. Sabalenka
leads their head-to-head 3-0.
In the
post-match press conference after her win over Gauff, Sabalenka was asked about
the crowd support she had received throughout the tournament and how she
expects it to be against local hero Zheng, the gold medalist at the recent
Olympic Games.
Read also
“I know,
obviously, they’re going to support her more than me. But I know that I still
have some people here who support me. This tournament feels like playing at
home. Being in the finals for the third time, hopefully, I'll get this
beautiful trophy tomorrow," Aryna Sabalenka said.
"But
no expectations on support from the crowd. I have my team. I have my family. I
have a lot of people who support me around the world. I'll just focus on
that," she added.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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